That we behold the light, that we have escaped out of bondage, that we are accounted, and be, the sons of God, all that (I say) we owe unto the preaching of the word of God. Let us not deceive our selves brethren, let us not deceive our selves. Our matters are not so firmly established, that they cannot fall. Except we take heed, except we look about, except we put to study & diligence, all things will easily slide and fall into their former estate. A lamp, except you put oil oft in it, will soon be out. The victory is kept even by such means as it is gotten. For what engines doth not the devil now use, what crafts doth he not practise, what way doth he not take, to overthrow the Church of God? He keepeth scoutwatch always, he is never wearied, he hath brought in so many vices, so much ignorance, so great blindness, ⟨image 8⟩that there is no place in which a Preacher ought to be idle. And as, if the sun were taken away from the world, all things should be left dark, disparkled and confounded, so if the voice of the Pastor be taken out of the Church, religion is left at six and seven, it is left blind, troubled, all things are mingled with error, superstition and Idolatry: of so great weight is it to be a steward of the house of God. The Gospel, religion, Godliness, the health of the Church dependeth of us alone. This is our office, this we take upon us, & this we profess. And except we do this, we do nothing, we serve to no use. It is not enough to know I wot not what learning. The Devils perhaps know more then any of us all. It belongeth unto a Pastor not so much to have learned many things, as to have taught much. Let it shame us, that the basest kind of men, even Cobblers and Porters do that which belongeth unto them, and we which ought to give light to all other are idle and do nothing. ⟨image 8⟩For God would not have us idle bellies, but he would have us both be interpreters of his mind, ministers of Jesus Christ, Attorneys of the people before the Lord of Sabaoth, the light of world, salt, Angels, and the sons of GOD, and so to be called: And we are appointed to govern, not dumb Cattle, not wild Beasts, but the flock of the Lord, but the sons of GOD, but the brethren of Christ. If any of these shall perish through our default, his blood shall be required at our hands.
That we beholde the light, that we haue escaped out of bondage, that wee are accounted, and be, the sonnes of God, all that (I saye) wee owe vnto the preaching of the worde of God. Let vs not deceaue our selues brethren, let vs not deceaue our selues. Our matters are not so firmly established, that they cannot fall. Except we take heede, excepte we looke about, except we put to studie & diligence, all thinges will easily slide and fall into their former estate. A lampe, excepte you put oyle oft in it, will soone be out. The victorie is kept euen by such meanes as it is gotten. For what engines doth not the deuill now vse, what craftes doth hee not practise, what way doth he not take, to ouerthrow the Churche of God? Hee keepeth scoutwatch alwayes, he is neuer weried, hee hath broughte in so many vices, so much ignoraunce, so great blindenesse, ⟨image 8⟩that there is no place in whiche a Preacher ought to be idle. And as, if the sunne were taken away from the world, all thinges should be left darke, disparkled and confounded, so if the voyce of the Pastor bee taken out of the Church, religion is left at sixe and seuen, it is left blinde, troubled, all thinges are mingled with error, susterstition and Idolatrie: of so great weight is it to be a stewarde of the house of God. The Gospel, religion, Godlinesse, the health of the Churche dependeth of vs alone. This is our office, this we take vpon vs, & this we professe. And excepte wee doe this, wee doe nothing, wee serue to no vse. It is not ynough to knowe I wote not what learning. The Deuils perhappes knowe more then any of vs all. It belongeth vnto a Pastor not so muche to haue learned many thinges, as to haue taughte muche. Lette it shame vs, that the basest kynde of men, euen Coblars and Porters doe that whiche belongeth vnto them, and wee whiche oughte to giue light to al other are idle and do nothing. ⟨image 8⟩For God would not haue vs idle bellies, but hee woulde haue vs both bee interpreters of his minde, ministers of Iesus Christe, Atturneyes of the people before the Lorde of Sabaoth, the lighte of worlde, salte, Angels, and the sonnes of GOD, and so to bee called: And we are appoynted to gouerne, not dumme Cattell, not wylde Beastes, but the flocke of the Lorde, but the sonnes of GOD, but the brethren of Christ. If any of these shall perishe thorowe our default, his blood shall be required at our handes.
